Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 June 2015
17 Jun 2015 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill
Yes. I noticed the omission and I was going to come back to it in my closing remarks. I am happy to answer that question right now. ALEOs are not listed in schedule 3 and are not public authorities, but the Scottish Government has the ability to designate by order additional organisations under certain circumstances, provided they meet certain qualifications. There is a blurred boundary between what is a public body and what is an entirely private body, and we must be aware of competence, but the bill has that provision and—as we did with allotments, following a particular concern about them—we will seek to ensure that ALEOs fall within the spirit of the bill, in so far as they are bodies that deliver on behalf of the public sector.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-13523, in the name of Marco Biagi, on the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill. Before I invite the mini...
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights (Alex Neil)
SNP
For the purposes of rule 9.11 of the standing orders, I advise Parliament that Her Majesty, having been informed of the purport of the Community Empowerment ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Many thanks. We can now begin the debate. 19:02
The Minister for Local Government and Community Empowerment (Marco Biagi)
SNP
I have not emptied a room this quickly since I got up to do karaoke at the party conference. I thank the members of all parties who have contributed today a...
Michael Russell (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the minister for allowing that to happen for one particular community in my constituency: the community of south Cowal. The minister was very helpful...
Marco Biagi
SNP
Michael Russell will be very glad to have put that on the record, and I am certainly happy to put on record my support for communities that wish to take up t...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
Will the minister give way?
Marco Biagi
SNP
In a moment. To help with our move towards participation and empowerment, at stage 2 we put a new power in the bill that will require all public bodies to p...
Malcolm Chisholm
Lab
During consideration of amendments I raised a point about arm’s-length external organisations, which I believe are not mentioned in the bill. Will the minist...
Marco Biagi
SNP
Yes. I noticed the omission and I was going to come back to it in my closing remarks. I am happy to answer that question right now. ALEOs are not listed in s...
Alex Salmond (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP)
SNP
The community right-to-buy process has evolved over the past few years and the bill takes it much further than it has been before. However, there is nothing ...
Marco Biagi
SNP
Yes. That takes me back to the discussion that I had with Alex Fergusson on amendments regarding communities of interest. In this bill we are allowing the tr...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I echo the minister’s comments and thank all those who have given an incredible amount of time, energy and support to enable us to scrutinise the bill and, I...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
Before I call Cameron Buchanan, I make the Parliament aware that the Presiding Officer has determined that decision time will take place at 8.15 tonight. Tha...
Cameron Buchanan (Lothian) (Con)
Con
The Parliament’s consideration of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill has been a long and detailed process and many important points have been raised. ...
John Wilson (Central Scotland) (Ind)
Ind
Will the member clarify the position with regard to local authority decision making about the closure of allotment sites and input by the community and allot...
Cameron Buchanan
Con
I do not think that it is clear in the bill that that is the case. That is my concern. It has not been specified. Unfortunately, I think that amendments t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You should draw to a close, please.
Cameron Buchanan
Con
I hope that members across the chamber will join us in committing to uphold the principles of community empowerment. 19:26
Clare Adamson (Central Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
It has been a very interesting afternoon in the chamber, with lots of topics being raised regarding the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill. I absolutely b...
Marco Biagi
SNP
I just want to say that I know how the member feels.
Clare Adamson
SNP
We had a wide-ranging debate this afternoon that went from the minutiae of allotment sizes to a philosophical conundrum from my colleague Rob Gibson, who ask...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Land reform is, of course, a continuum. Scottish Labour has contributed robustly to that process and will continue to do so beyond today. The Community Empo...
Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
SNP
It is a pleasure to reach this stage in the passage of the bill, given the huge amount of ground that Kevin Stewart’s committee and my committee have covered...
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
Let me start with Rob Gibson’s point about best value. The usual question that is asked about any legislation is whether it makes a difference and is seen to...
John Wilson (Central Scotland) (Ind)
Ind
I draw attention to my entry in the register of interests because I have had a particular interest in community empowerment for a number of years. I was remi...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
When we debated the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 on 3 February this year, I pointed out that the unifying theme in legislation is trust: ...
Alex Rowley (Cowdenbeath) (Lab)
Lab
First, I congratulate and say well done to the Local Government and Regeneration Committee. I absolutely associate myself with all John Wilson’s comments. I ...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
We are almost at the culmination of a long process that, as we heard, has involved several parliamentary committees and a vast array of witnesses, stakeholde...
Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab)
Lab
It has been a long day and a tiring day but, I hope, a very worthwhile one. For those of us who believe whole-heartedly in devolution and in the principles o...